Federal Member for Indi Helen Haines has backed recommendations for the federal government to review its funding to local government on road maintenance to improve rural roads following natural disasters.

Dr Haines assisted in drafting the report as a member of the Standing Committee on Regional Development, Infrastructure and Transport.

The report follows a 12-month inquiry into the significant challenges of maintaining Australia’s regional, rural and remote road network in the face of severe weather events, and how to improve road resilience for future natural disasters.

“Rural and regional people deserve to drive on safe, well-maintained roads and we need adequate funding so that local roads can be built to withstand future weather events,” Dr Haines said.

The committee travelled across the country to hear from local governments, engineers, emergency management organisations, climate scientists and weather experts including holding a hearing in Wodonga.

“I brought the committee to our region to ensure our voices and perspectives were heard directly and the committee found the evidence provided by Indi’s councils incredibly compelling,” Dr Haines said.

“The final recommendations reflect what the committee heard time and again from local councils including Towong Shire, that current funding arrangements only cover the damage caused by natural disasters and don’t allow communities to build back better.”

The report recommend that consultation be held with local governments to consider road infrastructure priorities at the local level.

It also recommended that road funding programs be reviewed to allow for greater flexibility.

“I am proud to have been a member of this committee and thank everyone who made a submission,” Dr Haines said.

This article appeared in the Corryong Courier, 21 December 2023.